Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 28:
Visiting member of the Press Council of India Geetharta Pathak today called on the Chief Minister-in-Charge Th Debendra and urged him top respect the freedom of expression and not to impose restrictions on the media.
During the meeting today Debendra Singh said the order imposing some restrictions on the media of the state was hurriedly passed to provide safeguard to the journalists of the state from the threats of underground organizations.
During the session Debendra said that t he Government has no intention of curbing the freedom of media in the State.
He however lamented that a section of the media has failed to follow the ethics of journalism.
He assured the visiting PCI member Geetartha Pathak that the Government would review the order.
Making his stand clear, Pathak pointed out the guidelines set by the Press Council of India in dealing with handouts, media releases of the outlawed organizations and argued that since the PCI already has a guideline on the issue it is imperative on the part of the media to follow the guidelines.
If the media intentionally do not follow the guideline anyone can lodge a complaint against any particular publication and PCI will take proper action against them and urged Debendra to withdraw the Government's order.
Information Minister TN Haokip was also present in the meeting.
He said that they are very much sympathetic to the media of the State and they are aware about the pressure under which the media functions in Manipur .
He however said that they will take the opinion of the Home Department on scraping the order.
The Information Minister asked the Press Council to give its opinion on the issue so that the government can take suitable
action.
The PCI member also urged the Information Minister to set up a press academy in the state in line with Kerala Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal State Govts etc so that the media persons of the State could increase their professional excellence and ethically discharge their duties.
He also suggested holding of seminar on conflict situation and role of media in the state by the information department with the help of the media organizations.
The Acting CM and Information Minister appreciated his suggestions and said that they will try to take action on his suggestion within the limitation of the Govt.Later Pathak met the Chief Secretary and the Information Commissioner in the office of the CS.
The CS said that a section of the media of the state are behaving as mouthpiece of the underground groups and glorifying violence which had adverse effect on the society.
He appreciated the guidelines of the press council on militants handouts and releases and expressed hope that now onward the media of the state would follow the guideline in letter and spirit.